Tehran, January 4, The Iran Project – A senior Iranian cleric says the execution of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr aims at dividing Shia and Sunni Muslims.

Grand Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi described the execution of top Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr as a Daesh-like action, saying that Saudi Arabia sought to sow discord between Shia and Sunni Muslims.

Referring to America’s silence on Sheikh Nimr’s execution, the senior Iranian cleric stated that it seemed that they were happy of this crime as they sought to trigger sectarian war between Shia and Sunni Muslims.

Saying that Saudis' killing of Sheikh Nimr was similar to Daesh executions, he added that surprisingly some popular Western newspapers condemned the crime describing it as tribal conflict that was worse than what Daesh has done.

Saudi Arabia executed Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr along 46 other people in defiance of international calls for the release of the prominent Shia cleric and other jailed political dissidents in the kingdom.

The Iranian government and religious leaders across the Middle East have condemned the execution of a prominent Shia cleric by Saudi Arabia and warned of repercussions for the country’s royal family.